Personal computer having lockable access panel

ABSTRACT

A personal computer includes a housing and a access panel providing access to the housing interior. The access panel is held closed by a latch, and the latch is locked against actuation, by a lock. The lock includes a bar that can be pulled out to a latch-locking position, whereupon an aperture of the bar is exposed for receiving an auxiliary locking member such as a padlock. The padlock prevents the bar from being retracted into a latch-release position. The access panel carries a cooling fan and a plug. The plug is automatically plugged into a receptacle carried by the housing, in response to the access panel being closed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a personal computer and, in particularto an access panel therefor.

Some personal computers and towers have been designed with a view towardfacilitating access to the internal components thereof to make it easierto repair or reconfigure the computer. An undesirable result of suchimproved access is that it is easier for thieves to access and steal theinternal components.

It would be desirable, therefore, to facilitate access to the interiorcomponents of a personal computer while keeping the components secure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a personal computer comprising ahousing for storing at least a power component and an accessory cardsupporting compartment. An access panel is mounted to the housing forswinging movement between open and closed positions. The access panelprovides access to the components when in an open state. A manuallyactuable latch is provided for holding the access panel in the closedstate. A locking mechanism is provided for preventing the access panelfrom being opened.

The locking mechanism preferably comprises a locking element movablebetween a locking position and an unlocking position. The lockingelement is movable to its locking position such that a portion of thelocking element moves out of the computer to an exposed state forreceiving an auxiliary member, such as a padlock or an anchored cable,which prevents the locking element from moving back to its unlockingposition.

The locking element preferably has an abutment surface and is movablebetween a locking position and an unlocking position. The abutmentsurface is situated in and out of the path of travel of the latch whenthe locking element is in its locking and unlocking positions,respectively.

The latch preferably comprises a one piece member which includes amounting portion mounted to the access panel, and an actuating portionelastically flexible relative to the mounting portion within a plane ofthe latch member. The actuating portion includes hooks for releasablyengaging the housing. The locking element of the locking mechanism ismovable to a locking position which prevents the actuating portion fromflexing relative to the mounting portion, and is also movable to arelease position permitting the actuating portion to flex relative tothe mounting portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which like numeralsdesignate like elements and in which;

FIG. 1 is a top-front perspective view of a computer tower according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 as a access panel of the towercomputer is beginning to be swung open;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 after the access panel has beenopened and removed from a housing of the tower computer;

FIG. 4 is a bottom-front perspective view of the tower computer afterthe access panel has been removed and as an accessory card is beinginserted into the interior of the computer housing;

FIG. 5 is an exploded top perspective view of an internal side theaccess panel depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top inner perspective view of the access panel in itsassembled condition, with the locking mechanism in an unlocking state,the latch in a relaxed state, and the EMI shield removed;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 6, depicting the latch in adownward or unlatching position; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 depicting the locking mechanism in alocking state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Depicted in FIG. 1 is a tower computer 10 which includes a housing 12and an access panel 14 shown in a closed state. The tower computer 10contains conventional components, such as a power supply 16 andaccessory cards 18, e.g., PCI cards used in graphics communications,which are readily accessible by opening and removing the access panel14, as shown in FIGS. 2-4. Some of the components could be mounted onpivoted modules so as to be swingable to an out-of-the-way position forexposing other components located therebehind as disclosed, for example,in commonly assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 08/431,417 filed May 1,1995.

The access panel 14 comprises a base 20 formed for example of plastic,and a metal EMI shielding plate 22 disposed on an inner side of the base20 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Alternatively, the base 20 could be formed of aconductive material, whereby no EMI shielding plate would be needed.

Along its lower edge 24, the base 20 includes a plurality of hooks 26adapted, as the access panel 14 is being closed, to reach behind avertical lip 28 extending along a lower edge of an opening 30 of thebase 20 which is opened or closed by the access panel 14 (see FIG. 4).The shielding plate 22 includes a series of bent-out tabs 32 arranged invertical rows on opposite sides of the plate. Those rows of tabs 32 areadapted to engage respective vertical edges 34 of the opening 30 as theaccess panel 14 is being closed so as to align the access panel with theopening in a horizontal direction. The base 20 can be provided with astiffening insert bar 21 to stiffen the base.

To close the access panel, the lower edge 24 of the access panel isplaced adjacent the lip 28 of the housing, and the access panel 14 isthen swung so that an upper edge 36 of the access panel approaches anupper edge 38 of the opening 30, the access panel swinging about ahorizontal axis defined by the lower edge 24 of the access panel. In sodoing, the tabs 32 engage respective edges 34 of the opening tohorizontally shift, if necessary, the access panel to a position alignedwith the opening 30. The base 20 is also provided with fingers 37 havingbeveled free ends to aid in performing this alignment function.Eventually, the free ends of the hooks 26 reach behind the lip 28 tosecure the lower edge 24 against movement away from the housing 12. Theupper edge 36 of the base then becomes secured to the upper edge 38 ofthe opening by a latch 40, as will now be described.

The latch 40 is a one-piece plate element formed of a resilient materialsuch as plastic. The latch 40 includes a recess 42 which extendscompletely through the plate element and spaces a mounting portion 44 ofthe latch 40 from an actuating portion 46 thereof. The mounting portion44 includes a plurality of holes 48 sized to receive respective posts 50of the base to immovably mount the mounting portion 44 to the base. Apair of guide protrusions 51 formed on the base 20 engage respectivevertical edges 53 of the latch 40 for guiding vertical movement of thelatter.

The actuating portion 46 is capable of flexing relative to the mountingportion 44 within the plane of the plate element, such flexing madepossible by the presence of the recess 42 and additional slots 52disposed on respective sides of the mounting portion 44. A top centersection of the actuating portion 46 includes a button 54 aligned with ahole 56 formed in a top horizontal flange 58 of the base 20. At top sideportions of the actuating portion 46, hooks 60 are provided which areadapted to reach behind the upper edge 38 of the opening 30 to hold theaccess panel in a closed state. The hooks 60 are elastically flexibleand include top cam faces 62 so as to engage behind the edge 38 with asnap action as the access panel is being closed. Since the lower edge ofthe access panel is fixed by the engagement of the hooks 26 behind thelip 28, the engagement of the hooks 60 behind the edge 38 secures theaccess panel to the housing.

By pressing downwardly against the button 54, the actuating portion 46is depressed (i.e. elastically flexed) relative to the mounting portion44 (see FIG. 7), whereupon the hooks 60 become disengaged from behindthe upper edge 38 to release the access panel. However, such downwardflexing of the actuating portion is controlled by a locking mechanism70.

That locking mechanism 70 includes a locking bar 72 that is slidablydisposed on guide elements 71 formed on the base 20 and is reciprocablehorizontally within the plane of the base 20 in a directionperpendicular to the up-down direction of movement of the actuatingportion 46. The locking bar 72 includes an upper edge 74 which underliesa lower edge 76 of the latch 40 and includes a pair of notches 78. Thosenotches 78 are arranged to be positioned in or out of vertical alignmentwith a pair of projections 80 projecting downwardly from a section ofthe lower edge 76 formed on the actuating portion 46, depending upon theorientation of the locking bar 72. That is, when the locking bar isretracted inwardly to a release position (see FIG. 6), the notches 78are aligned with the projections 80, permitting the actuating portion 46to be flexed downwardly, as depicted in FIG. 7. However, when thelocking bar 72 has been pulled out to a locking position (see FIG. 8),the notches 78 are out of alignment with the projections 80, whereby theupper edge 74 of the locking bar 72 prevents the actuating portion 46from being flexed downwardly.

When the locking bar 72 is in its locking position (FIG. 8), an aperture86 formed in an outer end thereof becomes exposed and can receive anauxiliary locking member, such as a padlock or an anchored cable, etc.,to prevent the locking bar 72 from moving back to its retracted(unlocking) position.

The locking bar 72 includes an end cap 90 which snaps onto a shankportion of the bar. The end cap also includes a flange 92 forfacilitating manual actuation. The aperture 86 is formed in the shankportion and in the end cap 90. The end cap 90 includes a hole 93 whichreceives a projection 95 of the shank portion to enable the end cap tobe snapped in place.

A spring is provided for biasing the locking bar 72 to its unlockingposition to ensure that whenever the auxiliary locking member is removedfrom the aperture 86, the bar 72 will slide to a position allowing theaccess panel 14 to be closed. That spring is in the form of a rod orwire 96 secured at one end between a pair of protrusions or guidemembers 97 formed on the base 20, and at another end to a hole 100disposed in the locking bar 72. The spring 96 extends between a pair ofguide members 97 formed on the base 20. To assemble the access panel 14,the latch 40 is mounted on the posts 50, the locking bar 72 is insertedonto the guide elements 71, the spring 96 is connected between the baseand locking bar, and the shielding plate 22 is mounted on the base 20 tosecure the latch 40 and locking bar 72 to the base.

In operation, the access panel 14 is closed by positioning the loweredge 24 of the base against the lip 28 of the housing 12, and swingingthe access panel toward the housing about that lower edge 24 as an axis.As this occurs, the tabs 32 of the shielding plate 22, and the fingers37 of the base engage the vertical edges 34 of the opening 30 of thehousing to horizontally shift the access panel into alignment with thatopening. Eventually, the hooks 26 of the base 20 become caught behindthe lip 28, and the hooks 60 of the latch 40 are flexed downwardly andthen snap up to become caught behind the upper edge 38 of the opening 30to hold the access panel closed.

In order to lock the access panel 14 against unauthorized entry, thelocking bar 72 is pulled out to its locking position in which thenotches 78 no longer underlie the projections 80 and in which theaperture 86 is exposed to receive the auxiliary lock, thereby preventingthe locking bar 72 from returning to a release position.

When access to the interior of the housing is desired, the auxiliarylock is removed, whereupon the spring 96 pulls the locking bar 72inwardly to its release position wherein the notches 78 underlie theprojections 80. Then, the button 54 of the latch 40 is depressed,whereby the actuating portion 46 of the latch flexes downwardly relativeto the mounting portion 44, causing the hooks 60 to become released frombehind the upper edge 38 of the opening 30. The access panel 14 can nowbe swung open and removed from the housing, allowing the internalcomponents to be accessed as shown in FIGS. 2-4.

Ready access to the housing interior is enhanced by mounting a coolingfan 110 on the access panel 14. That is, a cooling fan is useful inorder to circulate cooling air within the interior of the housing toprevent overheating. Normally, the fan would be mounted on a flange ofthe housing 12 and would have to be removed in order to accesscomponents such as the accessory cards. In that event, access to thecomponents would not be as rapid as desired. However, by mounting thefan 110 on the access panel 14, the fan is automatically moved to anunobstructive position upon opening the access panel 14. Furthermore,the fan is connected to a first electrical coupling in the form of aplug 112 by wires 113, and that plug 112 is mounted on the access panel14 to become automatically plugged into a second electrical coupling inthe form of a receptacle 114 mounted on the housing 12, when the accesspanel 14 is closed. The receptacle 114 is electrically connected to thepower supply 16 disposed within the housing, to provide power to drivethe fan 110. When the access panel is opened, the plug 112 andreceptacle 114 automatically become uncoupled. During a closing of theaccess panel 12, alignment between the plug 112 and receptacle 114 isestablished by the tabs 32 of the shielding plate 22, and the fingers 37of the base 20, so that the plug and receptacle can become automaticallycoupled.

It will be appreciated that by mounting the fan 110 on the access panel,full access to the housing interior can be established upon opening theaccess panel, because there is no need to separately remove the fan.Accordingly, access to the computer components can be rapidly achieved.

The access panel need not be made to be swingable relative to thehousing. For instance, in lieu of providing the hooks 26 for mountingthe access panel for swinging movement relative to the housing, insteadan additional latch 40 and locking mechanism 70 could be employed forsecuring the lower portion of the panel to the housing.

Although the present invention has been described in connection withpreferred embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilledin the art that additions, deletions, modifications, and substitutionsnot specifically described may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal computer comprising:a housing storingat least a power component and an accessory card supporting component;an access panel mounted to the housing for swinging movement betweenopen and closed positions, said access panel providing access to thecomponents when in an open state; a manually releasable latch forholding the access panel in the closed position; and a locking mechanismfor preventing the access panel from being opened, wherein the lockingmechanism comprises a locking element movable between a locking positionand an unlocking position, the locking element being movable to itslocking position such that a portion of the locking element moves out ofthe computer to an exposed state for receiving an auxiliary lockingmember which prevents the locking element from moving back to itsunlocking position; wherein the latch is movable in a path of travel,the locking element having an abutment surface the abutment surfacebeing situated in and out of the path of travel when the locking elementis in its locking and unlocking positions, respectively.
 2. The personalcomputer according to claim 1, wherein both the latch and lockingmechanism are mounted on the access panel.
 3. The personal computeraccording to claim 2, wherein the latch is retractable inwardly in afirst direction when moving to its unlatching position.
 4. The personalcomputer according to claim 1, wherein the latch is mounted on theaccess panel.
 5. The personal computer according to claim 4, wherein thelocking mechanism is mounted on the access panel.
 6. The personalcomputer according to claim 1, wherein the latch is movable in onedirection within a plane, and the locking element is movable in adifferent direction in the plane.
 7. The personal computer according toclaim 6, wherein the locking element is spring biased to its lockingposition.
 8. The personal computer according to claim 2, wherein theaccess panel is swingable about a horizontal axis along a lower edgethereof, the latch disposed at an upper edge of the access panel andbeing movable downwardly toward an unlatching position against a springbias.
 9. The personal computer according to claim 1, wherein the latchcomprises a one-piece member including a mounting portion mounted to theaccess panel, and an actuating portion being elastically flexiblerelative to the mounting portion within a plane of the latch member, theactuating portion including hooks for releasably engaging the housing,the locking element units locking position preventing the actuatingportion from flexing relative to the mounting portion and unitsunlocking position permitting the actuating portion to flex relative tothe mounting portion.
 10. The personal computer according to claim 1,wherein the housing is a tower computer, the access panel forming avertical side thereof.
 11. A personal computer comprising:a housingstoring at least a power component and an accessory card supportingcomponent; an access panel mounted to the housing for swinging movementbetween open and closed positions, said access panel providing access tothe components when in an open state; a manually actuable latch forholding the access panel in the closed position; and a locking mechanismpreventing the access panel from being opened, wherein the latchcomprises a one-piece member including a mounting portion mounted to theaccess panel, and an actuating portion being elastically flexiblerelative to the mounting portion within a plane of the latch member, theactuating portion including hooks for releasably engaging the housing,the locking mechanism including a locking element movable to both alocking position preventing the actuating portion from flexing relativeto the mounting portion and to a release position permitting theactuating portion to flex relative to the mounting portion.
 12. Thepersonal computer according to claim 11, wherein the locking elementcomprises a reciprocable bar having an end that becomes exposed when thebar is in a locking position for receiving an auxiliary lock memberpreventing the bar from moving to its release position.